| Curbstone Press, a 501(c)(3) non-profit literary arts organization founded
in 1975, is located in Willimantic, Connecticut. Throughout its history,
Curbstone's Director and Board members have nurtured its focus on
creative literature that invites readers to examine social issues,
encourages a deeper understanding between cultures, and reflects a
commitment to promoting human rights. As Eduardo Galeano aptly says in his
essay, "In Defense of the Word": "A literature born in the process of
crisis and change, and deeply immersed in the risks and events of its time,
can indeed help to create the symbols of a new reality, and perhaps...throw
light on the signs along the road. To claim that literature on its own is
going to change reality would be an act of madness or arrogance. It seems
to me no less foolish to deny that it can aid in making this change."
Curbstone's mission encompasses two interdependent goals: 1) publishing
creative literature that promotes human rights and inter-cultural
understanding and 2) bringing writers and programs deep into the community
to promote literacy, knowledge about many cultures, and an appreciation of
literature. Curbstone publishes 8 to 10 books a year, brings authors into Connecticut high schools in year-round programs, and has formed community partnerships to stimulate reading and creative writing with many community and service organizations in the Windham/Willimantic area. It is this dual focus on
publishing and educational programming that makes Curbstone unique among
non-profit presses.
Many of Curbstone's books have received awards, as has the Press itself. Curbstone Press is also a past recipient of the prestigious State of Connecticut Arts Award for Service to the Arts (now called the Governor's Arts Awards), and the CT Center for the Book's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Curbstone Press, like other non-profit organizations, must rely on the
support of individuals, foundations, and government agencies to fulfill its
mission. Just as non-profit theaters cannot survive on ticket sales alone,
non-profit publishers cannot exist solely on income from selling their books. There are several ways in which you can help, including:
ask your library to order your favorite Curbstone titles;
volunteer your services;
make a donation;
tell a friend about Curbstone's books and programs.
For information about nonprofit organizations: What is a Nonprofit?
Over the years, Curbstone's programs have been supported by a number of government agencies and private foundations, including:
the J. Walton Bissell Foundation, Connecticut Commission on the Arts, Connecticut Humanities Council, Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Memorial Fund, Eastern CT Community Foundation, Fisher Foundation, Frieda C. Fox Foundation, Greater Hartford Arts Council, Griffis Foundation, Hartford Courant Foundation, Junior League of Hartford, J.M. Kaplan Fund, Eric Mathieu King Fund, Lannan Foundation, Lawson-Valentine Foundation, Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Open Society Institute, Puffin Foundation, Edward C. and Ann T. Roberts Foundation, US-Mexico Fund for Culture, and the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation.
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